Knitting machine and method of knitting



y 26, 1942- A. L. HUTTON,'JR., ETAL 2,283,995

KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD OF KNITTING Filed Aprii 14, 1939 A 8 Sheets-Sheet].

y 26,1942. A. HUTTON. JR-. ETAL 2,233,995

KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD OF KNITTING Filed April 14, 1959 s Sheets-Sheet 2 m m m 172711 I [M ZM May 26, 1942.

A. L. HUTTVON, JR; ETAL KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD KNITTING Filed April 14, 1939 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jrry.

y 2 9 A. L. HUTTON, JR., ETAL 2,283,995

KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD OF KNITTING I 8 sneakssheet 4 Filed April 14, 1939 M826, A. L. HUTTONQ JR, EIAL 2,233,995 7 KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD OF KNITTlNu Filed April'l4, 1939 8 Sfieets-Sheet 5 May 26, 1942.

A. L. HUTTON, JR., ETAL KNITTING NAc NINE AND METHOD OF KNITTING Filed April 14, 1939 s Sheets-Sheet 6 Fzazz.

M y 4 A. 1.. HUTTON, JR., ETAL- KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD OF KNITTING 8 Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed April 14, 1939 [AWE/V7033": lmzmmmg EVGEIYES? May 1942- A. L.- HU TT ON, JR., ET-AL ,99

KNITTING NAGHINE AND METHOD 0N KNITTING Filed April 14, I939 8 Sheets- Sheet 8 I I A34 63 /32 130/ A27 Patented May 26, 194.2

, STATES} P 2,283,995 nmrrmc MACHINE AND METHOD or KNITTDIG Alt-red L. Hutton, Jr., Lonsdale, and Eugene St. llierre, Pawtucket, B. 1., asslgnors to Hemplaill Company, Central Falls,

of Massachusetts R. 3., a corporation Claims.

This invention relates to knitting machines, methods of knitting and knitted fabrics. Specifically, the invention is directed to so-called split foot knitting and the wrapping of needles with ornamental threads in the split foot and other courses.

For a more detailed disclosure of one embodiment of split foot knitting that may be practiced, attention is called to the patent to Gagne No. 1,673,764, June 12, 1928. The wrapping of needles as hereinafter to be set forth, is similar to that shown in Lawson Patent No.,1,702,608, February 19, 1929.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a developed View showing cams for effecting the movements of the needles for producing so-called split work courses in which courses at least one wrap thread is knitted, the

cams being shown as they would appear from the outside of the knitting machine if the cam ring were removed;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing another phase of the knitting cycle;

Fig. 3 is a view showing cams that control the movements of the needles at the main side of the machine;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken through the needle bed and cam ring, and showing a needle and associated jack;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view, at the phase of the knitting cycle indicated by line 5-5, Fig. 3, and showing how a specially constructed sinker cooperates with an adjacent needle in preventing the breaking of the yarn or thread'when the long needles are again depressed by the cams as they pass through the main feeding station;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but showing a later phase of the knitting cycle indicated by line 6-6, Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a latch ring showing the tops of some of the needles and indicating the knitting of circular courses, i. e., by con-' tinuous circular movements of the needle cylinder in the direction of the arrow;

Figs. 8 to inclusive, are plan views showing, more or less diagrammatically, the knitting of a wrap thread in conjunction with split foot knitting;

Figs. 16 to 18 inclusive, are fragmentary enlarged views to supplement the showing in Figs. 8 to 15 inclusive;

' Figs. 19, 20 and 21 are similar to Figs. 16, 17 and 18 respectively, but showing a modification;

Fig. 22 is a view showing a stocking, such as a half hose, having an ornamental clocking thread knitted at one side of the stocking both in the circular leg portion and the split foot portion, the clocking being duplicated at the opposite side of the stocking;

- Fig. 23 is a view of a few wales and courses of split work fabric, showing both the suture: construction and a wrap thread knitted in both fabric sections of the split work fabric, the knitting being accomplished in the manner illustrated in Figs. 8 to 13 inclusive;

Fig. 24 is a view similar to Fig. 23 but showing the suture at the oppositeside of the stocking; and

Figs. 25 and 26 are similar, respectively, to Figs. 23 and 24, but of a modified form of fabric resulting from the knitting as illustrated in Figs. 19, 20 and 21 in conjunction with Figs. 8 to 15 inclusive.

The knitting machine disclosed more specifically in the Gagne Patent No. 1,673,764 includes a needle cylinder i which, preferably, rotates continuously in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 7, during the knitting of the sc-called circular leg portion 2 (Fig. 22) of the stocking which may be joined to the rib or other top 3 in any conventional or other manner. During the split work'knitting of the instep t and high splice 5 and the said instep and the double sole 8, the needle cylinder 5 reciprocates first in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 7, and then in a clockwise direction. The heel l and toe't are knitted by reciprocatorymovements of the needle cylinderin any conventional or other manner.

The wrapping of selected needles with threads, such as the thread 9, is effected in the manner similar to that shown in Lawson Patent No. 1,702,608, the disc il'l shown therein being to all intents and purposes, the disc indicated at E0,

in Figs. 1, 2 and 8 of the drawings. The disc I.

rotates one and one with the needle cylinder I in the same manner as disclosed in the said Lawson patent. To accommodate the disc l0,

the latch ring H is recessed as at It, Fig. 7, the

dot and dash lines of Figs. 8, 9 and 10 indicating the rotary path of the center line'of an eyelet I! through which a thread e passes to the needles N or rather to those of them that have been selectively elevated as indicated in Fig. 1.

The latchring H is provided with the usual yarn levers, such as it, 55, i6, l-l, l8 and it, the yarn lever ll being one of the levers located in the mouthpiece 28 at the main side M of the knitting machine while the yarn lever I5 is located substantially diametrically opposite and at the auxiliary side A of the knitting machine.

and as shown more .or less diagrammatically in Figs. 8 to 15 inclusive.

At 23 are indicated generally fragmentary parts of the knitting machine pertaining particularly to the clamping and cutting mechanism. As the details of this mechanism form no part of the present invention, further description thereof I will be omitted.

As more fully disclosed in Lawson Patent No. 1,702,608, the wrap threads, such as 9, are confined within a recess 24, within the latch ring, and defined by plates 25,26 and fingers 21, 28.

These parts are all supported by the usual socalled binder plate 29 upon which is also mounted the clamping and cutting mechanism 36, the said mechanism 30 being connected to the latchring In 'one embodiment of-the invention the leg 2, heel 1, and sole 6 are knitted from yarns, such as 2|, fed to the needles at the main side of the machine, whereas the instep 4 is knitted from the yarn 22 fed to the needles at the aux iliary side of the machine.

The instep 4 of the stocking is knitted on the long butt needles; some of which are shown at 3|, Fig. 1, the said long butt needles having butts 3|. Thehigh splice 5, sole 6, heel 1, and

toe 8 are knitted by the short butt needles some of which are shownat 32, Fig. 1, the said short butt needles havingbutts 32'. The long butt needles are controlled by cams at the auxiliary side A of the machine andthe short butt needles are controlled by cams at the main side M of the machine, all the said cams being mounted upon a split cam ring 33. At each end of the short butt needle series is located a suture needle which alternately knits first at the auxiliary feeding station A and then at the main'feeding station M, the knitting by the so-called suture needles causing the respective fabric sections knitted by the long butt needles 3| and by the short butt needles 32 to be connected to form I tubular fabric, as disclosed in Gagne Patent No.

Referring particularly to Figs. 8 to 15 inclusive, long butt needles 3| are indicated by their butts 3|, said needles knitting the thread 22 at the auxiliary side of the knitting machine during the knitting of split work portions of the fabric. The short butt needles 32 at the same time knit the thread or yarn 2| at the main side of the knitting machine. To eifect the knitting of split work portions of a fabric, the needle cylinder l reciprocates thereby carrying the needles past. the threads 2| and 22 and cams pertaining to the main and auxiliary feeding stations. The needle cylinder, in its reciprocations, rotates through approximately 390 degrees of circumference, the beginning of the rotation in a clockwise direction being indicated at Fig. 8 and the end of the circumferential movement of the needle cylinder being indicated at Fig. 10, the arrows indicating about to move. The suture needles which alternately knit the threads 2| and 22 to form the series being designated by the numerals 36 and 31, respectively and their alternate knitting of the threads 2| and 22 is controlled in part by I are not engaged by the cam 40 and as a consequence thereof the said short butt needles move along the path indicated by the dot and dash line- 42, Fig. 2, all of the short butt needles with the exception of the leading short butt suture needle 36 knitting at the main knitting side of the machine, the said needle 36 being engaged by the narrowing pick 38 and elevated above the top center cam 43. The suture needle 31 in the same direction of rotation of the. needle cylinder, does not knit at the auxiliary feeding station, all of the short butts of the needles, with the exception of suture needle 36, moving past the long butt elevating, rocking cam 44, engaging the cam 45 and being lowered to move along the path 46, indicated by dot and dash lines in Fig. 2. Continued rotation of the needle cylinder in the direction of the arrows, Figs. 8 and 9, and from the position shown in Fig. 9 to that shown in Fig.10, causes the suture needle 36 to move past the auxiliary cams and as the cam 44 does not engage the short butt needles, the said suture needle 36 is not elevated by. the said cam 44, since needle 36 is at a raised elevation anyway. Jacks 41, Fig. 4, have one or more selective butts 41'. As stated, the suture needle 31 does not 'knit at the auxiliary feeding station when moving from position of Fig. 8 to that of Fig. 9, but continued rotation of the needle cylinder from the position shown at Fig. 9 to that shown at Fig. 10, causes the said suture needle 31 to knit the yarn 2| at the main side of the knitting machine, the knitting of the thread 2| by the suture needle 31 being normal, all of the short butt needles then knitting at the main side of the knitting machine.

Upon the needle cylinder reversing its directio'n of rotation and moving from the position indicated in Fig. 10 to that of Fig. 15, the suture needle 36 does not knit the yarn. 22 at the auxiliary feeding station, the said needle 36, in common with all other short butt needles, missing the cam 48, Fig. 1, and being depressed by the cam 49; At about the same time the suture needle 31 is engaged by the pick 39 and elevated above the top center cam 43so as not to knit at the main feeding station. Continued rotation of the needle cylinder causes the suture needle 36 to knit the yarn 2| at the main feeding station.

- The suture needle 31, when passing the main the direction in which the needle cylinder is sutures 34, 35, are at the end of the short butt cam block, is elevated to pass 'over that cam block so as to knit the yarn 22 at the auxiliary feeding station. That needle may be raised either move along the horizontal path 50 until they engage the top center cam which moves the long butt needles to a position to engage the knitting cam 45. In their movement past the cams 5| and t5, the long butt needles 2| engage and knit the yarn 22. The lower portion of the cam 45 which is at the level of the short butt needles, further depresses said needles. All needles then move up cam 52, tipping the cam id, as indicated in Fig. 1. The butts 3| of the long butt needles then engage the cam '53 which depresses the said long butt needles 2|, their butts then moving along a horizontal path until they engage cam 52 which causes the butts 3| to move along a low path 55 and at such a level that the hooks of the long butt needles do not engage the yarn 2|.

The foregoing brief description of the operation of the needles to effect the knitting of split fabric is descriptive of the knitting of the instep 4, high splice 5, and double sole 6, and is more completely disclosed in Gagne Patent No. 1,673,764.

The knitting of wrap stripes in a circular portion of the leg 2 to produce a clocked design 58, as shown in Fig. 22, is effected in the usual manner, i. e., by causing selected ones of the jacks ill to be elevated by selectively positioned cams 5? acting upon butts B1, in a manner similar to that shown in Lawson Patent No. 1,702,608, February 19, 1929, and in McNaughton Patent No. 2,058,481, October 27, 1936.

When commencing reciprocatory knitting, to effect the wrapping of long and short butt needles in the areas 58 and 59, Fig. 22, long and short butt needles are elevated by earns 51 selectively engaging butts 47' to raise needles companion to the said jacks 41, as just described, and during regular or anti-clockwise movements of the needle cylindergi. e., in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 10. Prior to engagement of the butts 41 (Fig. 1) by cams 51, the leading edge 82 of cam 6| engages butts 62 (Fig.4) of all the jacks moving them, to such position that their butts 41' may be selectively engaged by cams W.

The knitting of the wrap stripe split foot portion of the fabric will now be described with especial reference to Figs. 8 to 15, 23 and 24. r

To knit the fabric adjacent to and including the suture illustrated in Fig. 23, and beginning the cycle 01" operations to be described with the needle cylinder about to rotate from the position shown in Fig. 10 in an anti-clockwise direction, longbutt needles 63, 66 which knit wales 83', 64', having been selectively elevated by cams 51 and cam 65, move along the path indicated by dot and dash lines 56, Fig. 1, and past the wrap thread 9, beingwrapped in a manner similar to that shown in Lawson Patent No. 1,702,608. The needles then continue to move along the path 68 until they are engaged by cam 67 which depresses them to the level 68 so as not to engage Continued rotation of thethe main yarn 2|. needle cylinder causes'the said long butt wrap needles 5 3 to be further depressed by the cam 69 and then elevated by means of the camsurfaces 10, 1| of the cam ring 33 as indicated at the right of Fig. 1. The described movement of the wrap needles 63, 64 causes them, alone of the long butt needles, to draw stitches I2, 13, Fig. 23, through stitches knitted by the said needles 63, 84 with the yarn 22 during the knitting of the previous course at the auxiliary side of the machine, said previously drawn loops having been cleared of the needle latches by reason oi their rotation of the needle cylinder causes the short butts of the said needles i6, E5 to be engaged by the cam 61 and moved only to the level of the short butt needles 32, Fig. 1, the cam ti being cut away as indicated by the shoulder it to avoid moving the short butts to the level 68. The partial depression of the short butt needles permits them to engage the main yarn 2|, the cam 69 then completing the stitch drawing movements of the said needles id, 15 which draw bights of the main yarn 2| as well as of the wrap thread 9 through previous course loops as indicated by the stitches 11, id in the wales 15', i5 knitted respectively by the needles it, 15.

The knitting of the yarn 2| by the short butt needles and the knitting of the loops i2, i3 by the long butt wrap needles 63, 64, as just described, is supplemented, upon continued rotation of the needle cylinder, from the position illustrated-in Fig. 13 to the position illustrated in Fig. 15. During this phase of the knitting cycle, the long butt needles knit the yarn 22 at the auxiliary side of the machine for the course I9, the emitting of that portion of the' course 19 proceed' from right to left in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 23, the needles 83, 64 drawing bights of the yarn 22 through previously drawn wrap loops l2, l3.

Upon the needle cylinder reversing its direction oi rotation and moving from the position of Fig. 8 to that of Fig. 10, i. e., in a clockwise direction, the course 86 is knitted, the knitting proceeding in' the direction of the arrows, Fig. 23. At the main side of the machine, the short butt needles -(Fig. 23) and including the short butt suture needle 37, knit the yarn 2|, the needles 14, i5

' drawing bights of the said yarn 2| through loops I1, 18 of the wrap thread 9 and simultaneously drawn loops of the yarn 2| of course 19. Simultaneously with the knitting of that portion of the course 80, the long butt needles, Fig. 8 to Fig. 10, knit the yarn 22 at the auxiliary side, the knitting of that portion of the course likewise proceeding in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 23.

During the knitting of this portion of the course 86, the long butt needles draw bights of the yarn 22 through previously drawn loops, the needles 63, B5 drawing their respective bights or loops of the yarn 22 through loops, which loops were, in'

turn, drawn through wrap loops 12, I3, as just described. The knitting of the following course 8| corresponds to the knitting of the course 19, and likewise the knitting of the course 82 corresponds to the knitting of the course 80,-the described knitting of the courses 19, 80, thus completing a cycle of operations of the knitting of that portion of the fabric illustrated in Fig. 23.

The knitting of wrap stripes at the side of the stocking illustrated in'Fig. 23, has just been described and the knitting of that side of the stocking illustrated in Fig. 24 will now be described. It will be understood that partial courses illustrated in Fig. 23 correspond to partial courses illustrated in Fig. 24, in other words, duringone complete reciprocation of the needle cylinder in one direction, a complete circle of courses is knitted with two body yarns, the opposite sides of the fabrics knitted by the respective yarns 2| -8' and of the main yarn 2|.

and 22 being connected along suture lines 84 and 35 by the alternate knitting of suture needles 38 and 31 respectively.

' A wrap thread 8' is shown in Fig. 24 as being knitted itno' the 'fabric in a manner corresponding to that just described with reference to Fig. 23. Short butt needles 88 and 84, Fig. 10, are first fed with the wrap thread 8', rotation ofthe needle cylinder in the direction of the arrow,

Fig. 10, causing the short butt needles 88, 84 to be selectively elevated by a cam or cams 51, the needles then engaging the cams at the main side of the knitting station in thesamemanner as hereinbefore described with respect to the needles 14 and I5, the short butt needles 83 and 84,then engaging the mainyarn 2| and drawing loops or bights 85, 88 in the wales 83', 84' respectively, of the yarns 8' and 2| through previous course loops of the body yarn 2 I. Continued rotation of the needle.cylinder in the same direc-.

tion, causes long butt needles 8'! and 88 to engage the wrap thread 8, the said needlesdrawing loops 88, 88 respectively through previous course loops of the yarn 22. The loops 85, 88, 88 and 88 thus become part of course 8|, the knitting of which occurs in the direction of the arrow. The course 8| is, in effect, a continuation of course 18. Said course 8| also includes the knitting of a partial course with the main thread 2| by the short butt needles and the knitting of a partial course of a thread 22 by the long butt coursev 82 in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 24, the needles 88, 81, 84 and 88 knit in that order, needles 88, 8! drawing bights of the yarn 22 through loops 88. and 88, in other words, the

' needles 88 and I1 knit during this stroke of the needle cylinder in the same manner as the other long butt needles. The needles 84 and 88 knit the yarn 2| in the usualmanner drawing bights of the same through loops 88 and 85 respectively, each of which consists of loops of the wrap thread During this stroke of the needlecylinder, the suture needle 88 knits the yarn 22'. The knitting of the following courses 83, 84 corresponds to the just described knitting of the courses 8| and 82, in other words, the knitting of the courses 8| and 82 constitutes a knitting cycle;

In the wrap areas of each suture, as illustrated in Figs. 23 and 24, the long and short butt wrap stitches are connected by floats 85 and 88 during the same reciprocating movement of the needle cylinder and the knitted courses are connected by more or less diagonally disposed floats 81 and 88, each float 81 extending from the last short butt wrap stitch of one course to the ,nrst long butt wrap stitch of a following course. ,iEach float 88 extends from the last long butt wrap stitch of one course to the first short butt wrap stitch of a following course. At the side of the butt needle. That suture needle is in the middle of groups of needles which take the wrap yarn wrapping needles so that the wrap yarn passes.

below the latch of the said suture needle. When that needle is drawn down later the wrap yarn float is cast over the back of the needle but is tied in as illustrated. The wrap pattern which is knitted. as in Fig. 24 does not have the float tied insince.the suture needle intermediate the wrap needles is not raised to pass over the main cam block. It merely passes along at a low level going under that cam block. 'Wrapping takes place only in counterclockwise strokes of the cylinder so that the tying in of floats is always associated with that side at which the suture needle is raised to pass over the main cam block.

The cams 45 and 48 at the auxiliary side of the machine, are somewhat higher than the corresponding cams 88 and 54 at the main side of. the machine and as a consequence thereof the short butt needles which are caused to knit by the cams 88 and 54, are depressed to agreater extent than are the long butt needles which are needles, the suture needle 88 during this course I knitting the thread 2|. Upon the needle cylinder reversing its direction of rotation to knit the' caused to knit by the depressing action of the cams 45 and 48. As hereinbefore described, some of the long -butt needles, e. g., 83 and 84, are wrapped with a thread, such as 8, said needles then moving along the path 88 to be engaged and depressed by the cam 8?, then moving along the path 88 and being engaged by the cam 88 to effect the drawing of the stitches, such as 12 and 18, and through previous course loops of thread 22. Upon reversal of the needle cylinder, asjillustrated in Fig. 2, the long butt wrap needles 88 and 84 are engaged by the cam 48 and caused to move along the path |8| being then further depressed by the cam 88 to engage a rise ,on the cam I82 which causes the butts of the long buttneedles 84, 88 to move along the path 4| and then in the direction of the auxiliary cam where all the long butt needles knit. i

When the long butt needles 84 and 88 move in the direction just described and as indicated may be termed stitch drawing position thus Qin' posing ,a strain upon the wrap loops of stitches,

suchas l2 and 13. While the said needles 84583 are moving in the direction indicated in Fig.1 1, the point of the cam 88 depresses the said needles to the same extent but at such time the wrap thread 8 is being drawn from the source of supply and such drawing imposes no undue strain on the stitches I2, 18, but when'the needles 84 and 83 move in the direction from the right to the left, as indicated in Fig. 2, the point of the cain 88 imposes a breaking strain onthe stitches 12, I3 and especially upon the stitch 12, because of the fact that said stitch 12 cannot draw thread from the source of supply, the stitch 13 being hefabric, illustrated in Fig. 23, floats 85 and 8'! floats of the wrap yarn are-tied in at the suture because the suture needle is raised to pass over the main cam block since it is the leading short .8. In connectionwith the preceding remarks,'

it is noted that when needles draw their stitches in an independent needle machine of the type herein disclosed, the stitch cam, such as 88, causes desired length of stitch, the extra movement oi" the needles causing each needle to rob froin the needleimmediatelydn advance as 'the latter movesup the other side of the cam 88. It is thus evident that when the needle 63 is again depressed by the cam 69 when moving in the direction indicated in Fig. 2, the additional strain upon the stitch cannot be compensated for by robbing. What has been said with respect to the wrap stitches applies to some extent also to the stitches drawn by all the long butt needles at the auxiliary feeding station when they pass through the main feeding station and are depressed by the cam 69. V

It is for the purpose of avoiding the breaking of wrap and other stitches or loops that the specially constructed sinkers I03, illustrated in Figs. and 6, are used. The sinkers I03 are each provided with a notch I04 which (when the long butt needles, such as the wrap needles 64, 63, move in the direction indicated in Fig. 2 and are again depressed by the cam 63) permits the wrap or other stitches to rest in the said notches I06, as illustrated in Fig. 5, thus avoiding the necessity of, in efiect, redrawing the stitches and wrap thread 3' as in Fig. 16.

The arrows in the respective Figs. 16' and 17 imposing such a strain on the stitches as to break them. In Fig. 5, the relative positions of the needle and sinker are shown. at the point of the knitting cycle indicated by the line 5-5, Fig. 3, while in Fig. 6 the relative positions of the needles and sinkers are shown at the point of the knitting cycle indicated by the line 6-6, Fig. 3, the needle having been elevated and the sinker retracted as compared with respective positions of the needle and sinker shown in Fig. 5.

Elevation of the needles from the position shown in Fig. 5 to that shown in Fig. 6, is effected by the cam I02 which causes the needles to be elevated slightly so that butts of the needles shall move along the pathof the needles at 4|. The slight elevation of the long butt needles relieves continued strain upon the stitches to avoid more or less permanent distortion of the stitches and thus improves the appearance of the fabric by making the loops uniform in length.

When the long butt needles move from the right to the left as indicated in Fig. 2, they are elevated by cam I05 passing between the same and the cam 53' then being elevated by the movable cam 44 to a position to engage the top center 16; for convenience, the yarn 2| only has been shown in Fig. 16, said yarn being knitted by the suture needle 31 and two short butt needles be- 'at a later phase and as the wrap thread 9 is about to be drawn off the tip of finger 21.

Fig. 18- isillustrative of the fabric structure shown in Fig. 24, the wrap thread 9' being knitted by the needles 63, 54, 61 and 08, in that order, and floating across intervening short and long butt needles including the suture needle 36. A main yarn 2| is shown as being knitted by five shortbutt needles including the needles 83, 8t and the suture needle 36. Yarn 22 is omitted from Fig. 18, said yarn does not wrap around indicate the direction of rotation of-the needles, the direction of knitting being in the direction reverse to that indicated by the arrow; In Fig. 18, the arrow represents the direction of rotation of the needles.

In Figs. 25 and 26 is shown a modification of the stocking fabric illustrated in Figs. 23 and 24. In Figs. 23 and 24 the suture is formed at each side of the stocking, or other fabric, at a single wale, e. g., wale 35, Fig. 23; likewise in Figs. 25 and 26 there are single-wale sutures H2, H3. In Fig. 25 the main yarn 2| is shown as being knitted in course H4 at wales H5, H6, then floating across wales an, H8, H9 and 120, being knitted at suture wale I I2 and as the body fabric at wales I2I, I22, I23 and I24, the knitting proceeding in that order. In the suture at the other side of the stocking, as illustrated in Fig. 26, the main yarn 2| in course '4' (a continuation of course II4)- is shown as being knitted at wales I25, I26, I21 and I28 to constitute the body fabric, being likewise knitted at wale H3. The said yarn 2| then floats across wales I29, I30, I3I, I32, being cam 5! which depresses the needles to a position to be engaged by cam 43. Coincidental with the movement of the needles inthe direction from the right to the left, Fig. 2, the jack butts 62 move along a horizontal path I06 being elevated by cam I06 which causes the saw tooth butts 41' of the jacks 4! to be elevated along aninclined path coincidental with and parallel to the path indicated by the dot and dash line IIl'l, Fig. 2, so as to pass between such of the cams 51 as may be in a forward position, the sawtooth .butts being then depressed as indicated by the line I 08,

lectively elevate the jacks 4'! and as a consequence thereof permit the selective wrapping of the selected needles as well as to perform other functions common to machines of this character.

In Figs. 16, 17 and 18, the wrapping of the needles is more or less diagrammatically illustrated. Figs. 16 and 1'! illustrate the wrapping of the needles on each side of the. suture 35, hav ing reference to Fig. 23. The needles 63, 64, I4 and I5 knit the wrap thread 9 in that order, the wrap thread floating across the intervening needles. Although the yarns 2| and 22 are both knitted by some of the needles illustrated in Fig.

again knitted at wales I33 and I34. At wales H5, 3, I23, "4,125, I26, I33, I34, the main yarn 2| is knitted together with the wrap thread 9, i. e., in the course II4. As illustrated in Figs. 25 and 26, the long floats of the yarn 2| across the mentioned wales, are free on the inner face of the fabric, not being held as at the wale 35 in Fig. 23.

In Fig. 23, the wales I4, 15" are formed of single loops of the yarn 2| interknitted with double loops of the said yarn 2| and a wrap thread 9 in course I3, whereas at wales 63', 64' single loops of the wrap thread are drawn through single loops of the thread or yarn 22. Course 10, however, is composed of an extra loop by reason of' the method of knitting hereinbefore described,

there being three loops at wales 63', 64' for every two loops in the adjacent wales and'in wales I4 and I5. The foregoing also applies to Fig. 24, the wales 83, 84' corresponding to I4, I5 and the wales 8T, 00' corresponding to the wales 63',

In Figs. 25 and 26, the wales H5, H6, I33, I33 have three loops for two loops of the other wales. The wales I23, I24 and I25, I26 are identical in construction with the wales I4, 15'. and 83', 84 respectively.

Figs. 19, 20 and 21 are similar to Figs. 16 to 18 inclusive, being, however, illustrative of the knitting of the fabric sections illustrated in Figs. 25 and 26. Fig. 19 shows the wrap thread 9 being knitted by the needles 63, 64, I4 and 15 in that order, w-rap thread 9 floating across the wales knitted by the intervening needles including the suture needle 3]. The body yarn 2| is shown as knitted by the needles 63, 64, the said yarn 2| floating across the wales knitted by seven intervening long and short butt needles,. the said yarn 2| then being knitted by the needles 1, 15, in this form of the invention, all the wrap needles knitting both the wrap thread 9 and the yarn 2|. i

Fig. 20 is similar to Fig. 17, being illustrative of a later phase of the knitting cycle than that illustrated in Fig. 19.

Fig. 21 is illustrative of the fabric suture shown in Fig. 26. In said Fig. 21, a wrap thread 9 is shown as being knitted by needles 83, 84, 81 and 88 in that order, said wrap thread floating across the seven wales knitted by intervening long and a short butt needles including suture needle ,||3.

Although both body yarns 2| and 22 are knitted by some of the needles diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 21, for convenience, the thread 2| alone is shown, said yarn being indicated as knitted by the needles 83, 84, the suture needle H3 and the two short butt needles between said suture needle and the needle 84. The yarn 2| floats across the wales knitted .by the four long butt needles located between the suture needle I I3 and the needle 81, the said yarn being knitted by the needles 8? and 88 in that order.

Specific terms have been used in the description for illustrative purposes only, there being no intention thereby of limiting the invention to the precise details of construction disclosed.

We claim:

1. A knitting machine adapted to reciprocate to knit split work, said machine having two feeding stations and means for feeding a yarn to the needles at each feeding station, means for knitting eachof the two yarns upon portions only of the needles and connecting the two knitted portions along suture wales, means for feeding a thread to needles upon opposite sides of a suture. i v w 2. A knitting machine adapted to reciprocate to knit split work, said machinehaving two feeding stations and means for feeding 'a'yarn to the needles at each. feeding station, means for knitting each of the two yarns upon portions only of the needles and connecting the two knitted portions along suture wales, means for feeding a thread to needles upon opposite sides of a suture and floating the same across the suture.

3. A circular knitting machine having independent needles, two feeding stations and means for feeding a'yarn to a portion only of the needles at each feeding station, means for connecting the fabric portions along a suture wale, and means for wrapping a thread around selected needles at opposite sides of a suture wale and floating said thread across the suture wale.

4. A knitting machine of the circular, indeof the fabric knitted from separate yarns byknitted sutures, and means for feeding a wrap thread to certain selected needles, some of said selected needles being positioned at one side of each knitted suture and others of said needles being positioned at the other side.

5. A knitting machine of the circular, indefeeding means for feeding one yarn at one station and another yarn at the other station, said cam means being so constructed as to cause part of the needles to knit at one station and the re-' maining needles at the other station and to interknit yarns fed at each station to form knitted sutures at either side of the fabric, means for feeding wrap threads to selected ones of the needles at either side of the fabric, the construction being such that said wrap means will feed a wrapthread to a group of needles some of which are positioned at one side of a knitted sture and others of which are positioned at the opposite side of said suture.

6. A circular, independent needle knitting machine having in combination needles, two feeding stations and yarn feeding means at each feeding station, cam means at each feeding station adapted to cause needles to knit one of said yarns during continuous rotation of the needles in one direction and to knit both yarns, one at each side of'the fabric, and to connect said yarns knitted at opposite sides of the fabric by knitted sutures during reciprocatory movement of said needles, wrap thread feeding means operable during both rotary knitting and reciprocatory knitting and being so constructed and operated as to feed its wrap threads at each course during rotary knitting, and to courses knitted in one direction of reciprocation but to needles at either side of each knitted suture during reciprocation.

7. A circular, independent needle knitting machine having in combination needles, two feeding stations and yarn feeding means at each station, cam means at each feeding station, adapted to cause needles to knit one of said yarns during continuous rotation of the needles past the feeding stations in one direction and to knit both yarns, one at each side of the fabric, and to connect said yarns at opposite sides of the fabric in knitted sutures during reciprocatory movement of said needles, wrap thread feeding means including an eccentrically mounted wrapping spindle carrying supplies of wrap threads and feeding means therefor operable during both rotary knitting and reciprocatory knitting and being so constructed and arranged as to feed its wrap threads at each course during rotary knit-' ting, and to' courses knitted in one direction of reciprocation.

8. A method of reciprocatory knitting including the steps of wrapping needles with a pattern thread, subsequently feeding a body yarn to said needles and then passing said needles through stitch drawing cams thereby forming a stitch of said body yarn plated by said pattern thread, and thereafter causing said needles to pass through a second group of stitch drawing cams and while said stitches of body yarn and pattern thread are still held in the hooks of said needles and so controlling said stitches that they are not redrawn to the extent to which they were originally drawn thereby avoiding placing undue strain upon said stitches. r

9. A'method of knitting in reciprocatory, split foot work and patterning the fabric thus knitted with awrap stripe pattern including the steps of feeding two separate body yarns, one at either side of a fabric, and connecting said yarns by knitted sutures at opposite sides of the fabric, and at one side of a suture wrapping a wrap thread in such a manner as to plate stitches of in knitted sutures during reciprocatory moveed to cause needles to knit one of said yarns during continuous rotation of the needles past the feeding stations inone direction and to knit both yarns, one at each side of the fabric, and to connect said yarns at opposite sides of the fabric ment of said needles, wrap thread feeding means including an eccentrically mounted wrapping spindle carrying supplies of wrap threads and feeding means therefor operable during both rotary knitting and reciprocatory knitting and being so constructed andarranged as to feed wrap threads to selected needles during both rotary and reciprocatory knitting.

ALFRED L. HUTTON, JR. EUGENE ST. PIERRE. 

